CINCINNATI, Ohio — Just 12 short weeks ago, Dr. Andrea Jaramillio gave birth to baby Eleanor. This is her and her husband’s first child together.

“It was the happiest day of my life, and I didn’t know that you could love someone so much and I feel like my life is finally complete,” said Jaramillio.

For the past two months, Jaramillio has been spending as much time as possible with her daughter. She took a 12-week maternity leave, but will only get paid for six weeks. On Monday, she is expected to return back to work.  

“I’m not ready to go back and she’s little and I’m struggling right now because I feel like I’m going to miss so many things and especially in jobs that demand a lot of time,” she said. “It’s like when I get home, she’ll be sleeping.”

President-elect Joe Biden is hoping to help not only mothers like Jaramillio, but fathers as well. As a part of his platform, he has proposed a 12-week paid maternity and paternity leave.

“I believe 12 weeks is not enough, but they will take away a little bit of anxiety and stress of leaving our loved ones and on top of that, not worrying about the bills and I know that many of us have to pay bills and you still want to care for your kids and give them the best,” she said.

That extra time at home is needed right now for many parents because of ongoing child care issues due to the coronavirus. And giving dad some extra time at home is important too. 

“We need him at home and I feel bad for him because he’s missing out on Ellie’s milestones and as wife, you also need the support of your partner when you’re struggling and you don’t know what’s going on with them and you want to cry,” she said. “And I feel that having mom and dad at home will take that stress away.”

Biden's plan would still need help from Congress. While many lawmakers support some kind of extended family leave, the debate has been over how to pay for it.